Claire B. Watts (96) passed away peacefully in the early morning of January 13, 2019, at Cedar Hill Health Care Center in Windsor, Vermont.

Claire was born in Lisbon , Connecticut, on November 26, 1922, to Alfred and Beatrice (Bergeron) Martin. A lifelong passion for literature, education and art began early in life, as Claire once described in her own words in a personal essay: "I walked about three miles to the library when I was about seven and carried home as many books as I was allowed to check out."

After graduating from Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, Connecticut in 1941, Claire won a scholarship to attend the American School of Design in New York City. "These memories lasted through the years," Claire wrote. "Sketching classes along the docks, museum visits, long evening walks along the city's canyons, analyzing the displays and art works." Her aspirations to pursue art and design were interrupted by the start of World War II, and Claire moved home to help support her family. She worked in a factory making aircraft hubs, "drilling and milling each night."

She met an ensign in the Merchant Marines named George E. Watts at a local dance. "We danced to 'Besame Mucho' and 'Paper Doll' on the jukeboxes," Claire wrote. They married a year later on December 15, 1944 in York, Pennsylvania. They lived in Taftsville and Cromwell, Connecticut, before moving to Hartford, Vermont to raise a family. Claire resided there for the last 55 years. She returned to her own education and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies in 1976 from Goddard College. She worked at many local area libraries, including Dartmouth Thayer School of Engineering, Baker Library, Kimball Union Academy and Hanover High School.

Claire had a love for gardens in her local community. She volunteered with various organizations such as the Hartford Garden Friends, Glory Days of the Railroad, and the Committee of Historic Preservation. A devoted mother, a caring daughter, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, Claire loved, most of all, her family. "Caring for your children never ends, the cord is there even if it is stretched over thousands of miles," she wrote.

She was predeceased by her daughter Elizabeth in 1953, her husband George in 1999, and her sister Arlene Ferree in 2018. She leaves a daughter Susan Baldwin of Waterbury, Vermont and a son David Watts and his wife Kathleen, of Castleton, Vermont; eight grandchildren, Megan Baldwin and her husband Steven DaSilva of Somerville, Massachusetts, Lauren (Watts) Roy and her husband Brian of Kennebunk, Maine, Benjamin Watts of Burlington, Vermont, Leigh Watts of New York City, Bill Welch and his wife Tonya of Sudbury, Vermont, Chris Clogston of Proctor, Vermont, Russell Clogston and his wife Tina of Daytona Beach, Florida, and Joshua Closton of Orwell, Vermont; nine great-grandchildren, Mia DaSilva, Sam DaSilva, Devin Roy, Jayden Roy, Sarah (Welch) Lemery and her husband Stefan, Hannah Welch, Kalah Welch, Moriah Welch, and Zechariah Welch; a niece Barbara (Ferree) Brooks and her husband Gordon, and their children Cameron Brooks and Julia Brooks; and a nephew Robert Ferree and his wife Diane.

A graveside service and gathering is planned for the spring.

The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and staff members at Mountain View Genesis in Rutland, Vermont, and Cedar Hill Health Care Center in Windsor, Vermont, for their  kindness, caring work, and assistance throughout the last few years.

In lieu of flowers, at Claire's request, donations can be made to Hartford Garden Friends, PO Box 804, Wilder, VT 05088.